Volume control on Xiaomi devices seems like a simple task – until you face unexpected system limitations. Some people want to set the alarm clock volume separately, some want to remove the annoying binding of media sound to buttons, and the owners of smart speakers Mi Smart Speaker can not find the right sliders in the application. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to change the volume: from basic to hidden functions. MIUI, including ADB-commands and settings for smart devices ecosystem.
Xiaomi’s feature is that it often hides useful options under a layer of customization. For example, some firmware does not separate media and notification regulators, and in the Mi Band smartwatch, the alarm clock volume is adjusted through a separate application. We have collected current methods for smartphones (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra), Pad tablets and Mi Home gadgets, including solutions for cases when standard methods do not work.
1. Basic volume control with buttons
The most obvious method is the physical buttons on the smartphone body, which on Xiaomi work by default like this:
- 🔊 "Loudness button" +" — Increases the volume of the current profile (media, bell, or alarm clock).
- 🔇 The "Loudness -" button reduces the volume. The long press turns the device into silent mode.
- 🎵 Context menu – when you press the buttons, a panel appears with a choice of sound type (cog icon in the upper right corner).
On most models (Redmi 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T), the buttons only control the current audio stream. For example, if you listen to music on Spotify, the adjustment will only affect media sound, not notifications. But there is a caveat: in some firmware (especially on budget models), the default buttons are tied to the volume of the call, even if you watch video.
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If the volume buttons don’t respond, check if they are locked in the special features settings (Settings → Special Opportunities → Physical buttons).
To change the behavior of the buttons:
- Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
- Slip on Volume (or Volume Control in older versions of MIUI).
- Enable the option to Separate Volume Controls (if available).
- Choose which sound stream should adjust the default buttons.
What if there is no option to “separate regulators”?
Volume setting via the Sound and Vibration menu
If the buttons don't give you the flexibility you need, go to the system settings.
- 🔔 Loudness of the call (incoming calls).
- 📱 Volume of notifications (SMS, messengers).
- 🎧 Volume of multimedia (music, video, games).
- ⏰ Alarm Loudness (Separate Regulator).
- 🤫 Modes without sound/vibration.
Path to menu: Settings → Sound and vibration → Volume. On some devices (e.g. Xiaomi Pad 6), this menu may be called Volume Levels. Importantly, in MIUI 14 and later, alarm and notification regulators can be combined into one slider — it's not a bug, but a feature of interface optimization.
| Type of sound | Where you're tuning in. | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Media (music, video) | Sound and vibrations → Volume → Multimedia | It can be adjusted by buttons only when the content is played. |
| Call. | Sound and vibrations → Loudness → Call | On some models, it is tied to the default buttons. |
| Alarm clock | Sound and vibration → Loudness → Alarm clock or in the app | The Mi Band is set up via Mi Fitness. |
| Notifications | Sound and vibration → Loudness → Notifications | It can be combined with a call in new versions of MIUI. |
Make sure that the Sound mode is turned on (not No Sound or Vibration")|Check if there are volume limits in the EU-firmware|Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (in older versions of the bug with adjustment)|Restart the device if the sliders do not respond
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3. Gestures and quick settings to change volume
Xiaomi offers several ways to quickly adjust without buttons:
1. Notification panel
Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar. There's a volume slider (speaker icon). Click on it to expand the extended menu with a choice of sound type. On the Xiaomi 13/14 series, the panel supports a double tap gesture on a slider to switch between modes (sound/vibration/no sound).
2. "Touch and hold" gesture
On some models (e.g. POCO F5), you can set up volume button retention to trigger voice assistant or other actions. path: settings → system → gestures → volume button.
3. Turning gesture
MIUI 12+ has a Smart Turn feature: if you turn it on in Settings → Additional → Smart Turn, when you turn the phone down, the sound will automatically mute. Useful for quickly turning off the alarm or notifications.
Buttons on the case |Notification Panel |Gesters |Voice commands |Another way-->
4. Volume control on Xiaomi smart devices
Smart speakers, watches and other gadgets Mi Home have their own nuances:
Smart Speaker (Mi Smart Speaker, Xiaomi Smart Speaker)
- 🔊 Volume changes with voice (Teams: "Louder", "Hush", "Set Volume at 50%").
Smart watches (Mi Band 7/8, Xiaomi Watch 2)
- ⏰ The volume of the alarm clock is adjusted in the Mi Fitness app (Alarms section) → Sound settings).
- 🔔 The volume of notifications depends on the connected smartphone (adjusted on the phone).
- 🚫 There is no separate volume control on the Mi Band – only a choice of melody.
TVs (Mi TV, Xiaomi TV A2)
- 📺 The volume is changed by the buttons on the remote or voice (OK, Google, turn it up louder").
- 🔧 In sound settings (Settings) → Sound can be enabled by volume auto-adjustment (normalizes sound between channels).
- 🎚 For advanced settings (equalizer) use Engineer Mode (code 114514 on the remote).
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On Xiaomi smart devices, the volume is often tied to the main gadget (smartphone or speaker). If the sound is not adjustable, check the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connection.
5. ADB-commands for advanced volume setting
If standard methods don’t work (for example, there is no separation of regulators), Android Debug Bridge (ADB) will help.
Step 1: Preparation
- Turn on the Developer Mode on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times).
- Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
- Install ADB Tools on PC (download from the official website).
Step 2: Commands for volume control
Connect the phone to the PC and type in the command line:
Show current volume levels (0-15)
adb shell media volume --show
Set the media volume to 10 (max. 15)
adb shell media volume --stream 3 --set 10
Set the volume of the call to 7.
adb shell media volume --stream 2 --set 7
Unlock volume limit (for EU- firmware only)
adb shell settings put global volume_safe_speaker 0Step 3: Save the settings
To make changes after the reboot, use:
adb shell cmd overlay enable-exclusive com.android.soundpicker.overlay.VOLUME_STEPS_30💡
If so, ADB-commands volume is reset, check if the Safe Sound mode is active in the settings (Sound and vibration) → Safe sound).
⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB Do not change stream 0 (system sounds) and stream 4 (alarm clock) without needing – this can make the device unmanageable.
6. Solving Volume Control Problems
If the volume does not change or the sliders do not respond, check:
1. Limitations EU-firmware
On devices with European firmware (Redmi Note 11 Pro EU, POCO X3 NFC) there are volume limits according to EU standards.
- 🔧 Use it. ADB-Adb shell settings put global volume_safe_speaker 0.
- 📦 Install custom recovery (such as OrangeFox) and edit the file /system/build.prop, adding the line ro.eu.volume.limit=0.
Annex conflict
Some programs (e.g. Equalizer FX or ViPER4Android) can block system audio settings.
- 🛑 Close all applications related to sound.
- 🔄 Restart the device in safe mode (hold the power button) → Safe regime).
- 🗑 Remove or update problematic applications.
Hardware malfunctions
If the volume buttons are not working physically:
- 🔍 Check if moisture or dust has been hit by the buttons (relevant for Redmi 10 and the other two). POCO M4 Pro).
- 🔧 Disassemble the device and clean the contacts of the buttons with alcohol (only if you have experience!).
- 📱 Use virtual buttons through Settings → Special opportunities → System navigation → On-screen buttons.
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi with IR-With a blaster (like the Redmi Note 8 Pro), volume button problems can be related to an infrared port conflict. IR-blaster in Settings → Connected devices → IR-blaster.